Method and apparatus for coating cores



Jan. 25, 1927.

J. 5. LITTLE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING CORES v Filed Feb. 27. 1923 I z sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 25, 1927.

1,615,390 J. s. LITTLE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING CORES Filed Febf2 '7. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 12 4' I A81 B 5 Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN SHIRLEY LITTLE, OF LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGN'JR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION NEW YORK.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COATING CORES.

Application filed February 27, 1923. Serial m5. 621,561.

This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for coating cores.

The object of the invention is to produce a core having a coating of pulp thereon,

which is attached to the core solely by an limited to this intermingling of the fibers thereof and with-' out the use of any adhesive substance.

Briefly, the method consists in depositing pulpous material upon a foraminous member, bringing the core to be coated into contact with the pulp on the-foraminous member, bringing the core into contact with a carrier, preferably a felt, and transferring the pulp from the foraminous member to said carrier, simultaneously removing the coreand pulp from the carrier, and then forming the pulp around the core so as to constitute a homogeneous coating therefor.

The present method may be employed to advantage for insulating electrical oonduo tors. but it is to be understood that it is not urpose but only in so far as is defined by tile a pended claims. Where the method is used or insulating electrical conductors manila, wood, rag, cotton, esparto, jute, hemp, and asbestos pulps may be employed as the coating material, but other materials than those specified may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention which contemplates in its broadest aspect the coating of any core with any pulp.

The drawings illustrate an apparatus by which the method ma be practiced, the apparatus being especia ly designed for coating a core in strand form, but it is to be understood that other apparatus may be devised for coating cores in other forms withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The word pulp as used in the specification and claims is to be understood as defining and including any cohering fibrous mass whether suspended in a liquid, moist, or substantially dry.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a preferred ing rolls, its shape during the forming operation, and its shape after the completion of the forming operation, respectively, and

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of the core and pulp coating shown in Fig. 6.

The steps of the method will be readily understood from a detailed description of the apparatus by which the method may be practiced. I

Referring to the drawings in detail, in which like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views,

the core to be coated is fed from a supply .10 over an idler roll 11 and thence around a felt covered roll 12. The rolls 11 and 12 are supported upon suitable standards 13 and 14 respectlvely which are in turn mounted upon a framework 15 which supports all of the elements of the apparatus. The felt roll 12 is mounted so as to engage the periphery of a drum 16 which is partially submerged in a liquid containing pulp within a semi-circular trough'17.

The drum 16 may be of any suitable type but preferably comprises a pair of sheek metal sides 18 (Fig. 4) and a peripheral portion 19 secured thereto. The portion 19 is provided with a plurality of relatively large perforations 20 which are covered with a narrow strip of'fine wire mesh 21. The core in passing around the felt roll 12 lies upon the wire'mesh 21. The drum has a centrally disposed tubular axle 22 which ,is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 23 carried by the framework 15.

The level of the pulp mixture within the drum 16 is maintained at a lower level than that of the pulp in the tank 17 as indicated bv dotted lines A and B respectively. This difference in levels is maintained by a syphon pipe 24 which has its inlet submerged in the pulp mixture within the drum 16 and its discharge through the tubular axle 22.

A continuous circulation of the pulp mixture is maintained in the tank 17 by feeding the pulp mixture from a supply tank 25 and into the tank 17 and out of said tank through a pipe 26 into a receiving tank (not shown) from which it is pumped back into the supply tank 25 in any suitable manner. As the drum 16 revolves in the tank, due to the difference in levels of the liquids in the drum 16 and the tank 17, the liquid in the tank will pass through the wire mesh 21 and the perforations 20, straining pulp onto the outer surface of the wire mesh.

The drum 16 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow and the pulp on the foraminous portion 21 thereof is brought into contact with both the core to be coated and the felt upon the roll 12. The roll 12 has a foraminous portion on its periphery.

formed of wire mesh 27 or other suitable material covered by felt 28, as shown in detail in Fig. 3, and as the pulp on the foraminous portion of the drum is brought into contact therewith the free liquid, so to speak, in the pulp mixture will be squeezed out partially through the foraminous portion of the drum and partially through the felt and foraminous portion of the roll 12. The partially dried pulp adheres to the felt in narrow ribbon form and also clings to the core to' some extent, the core being positioned between the felt and the ribbon. As the core leaves the felt roll it will remove the pulp ribbon from the felt and carry the .said ribbon with it in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 6.

From the felt roll 12 the core with the pulp ribbon attached thereto is passed between a pair of squeezing rolls 29 and 30.

These rolls are rotatably mounted between a pair of brackets 31 secured to an upright standard 32. supported by the framework 15. The shaft carrying the roll 30 is suitably driven through a pulley attached thereto which is actuated by a motor 33 in any suitable manner, as by means of belts 34 and 35. The rolls 29 and 30 preferably draw the core from the supply roll 10 over the idler 11 and around the felt roll 12 and then between them. The drum 16 is rotated in any suitable manner as by means of a belt 86 actuated by the motor 33. r

The squeezing rolls may be formed of rubber and forced together by any suitable tension means which isadjustable to present the proper pressure on the core and pulp coating as they pass between the rolls. These rolls remove the greater portion of the moisture from the pulp ribbon. This squeezing operation also tends to mat or felt the fibers of the pulp into more intimate relation, increases the tensile strength of the covering, and secures it to the core.

From the squeezing rolls the core with its ribbon pulp coating is drawn through a former which wraps the projecting edges of the ribbon around the core and around each other, the appearance of the coating after it is first acted on by the former and after the forming action is completed being shown clearly in Figs. 7 and 8. The former causes a thorough intermingling of the pulp fibers and shapes the coating so that it embraces the core and conforms to the shape thereof. This step of the process forms the coating into a mass so homogeneous that upon cutting the core and coating the latter will not fray or rave] and will not become easily detached from the core.

The former, indicated by the reference numeral 35, is illustrated as being of the same type as that fully shown and described in a co-pending application of Valker and March, Serial No. 547,923, filed March 29, 1922. Reference is made to this application for a full disclosure thereof.

The former comprises essentially two plates 4.1 and .42 which wrap the projecting edges of the pulp ribbon around each other and around the core in much the same manner as though the core and pulp ribbon were rolled ona table top with the palm of the hand.

The core with its formed coating is drawn from the former and subjected to a mechanism for thoroughly drying out the coating. The means shown for performing this step in the process are a pair of wide hollow drums 44 and 45 heated internally and having a plurality of grooves 46 formed thereon, (Fig. 2) which receive the core,

guides (not shown) being provided for directing the core over first one drum and then the other until it has traversed all of the grooves on both drums, after which it is stored On a receiving drum 47. The drums 44 and 45 are revolvably mounted in suitable bearings carried by vertical standards supported by the framework. The receiving drum 4-7 is also revolvably mounted in bearings carried by brackets 48 supported by the framework 15 and is driven by the motor 33 through suitable belting, the drums 44 and 45 being driven from the drum 47 also through a suitable belting system.

Although it has been stated that the primary object of the invention is to apply a coating of pulp to a core without the use of any adhesive substance, the process herein disclofed may be used with a pulp mixture containing a sizing substance. or the pulp may be deposited on a core which has been previously treated with an adhesive agent. without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

\Vhat is claimed is:

llll

1. A method of coating a core in strand form with pulp. which consists in deposittween said core and the pulpous material on the foraminous member, removing the core and pulpous material from said foraminous member and simultaneously with the reforaminous member, removing the core and pulpous material from said foraminous member and simultaneously with the removal of the core and pulpous material from the foraminous member, removing part of the moisture from said material forming the said pulpous material on the core to constitute a coating thereon conforming with the shape of the core, and then removing substantially all of the moisture from said.

material.

3. A method of coating a core in strand form with pulp, which consists in depositing ulpousmaterial on a member, causing'an intimate contact between said core and the pulpous material. on the member, transferrin the core and the ulpous material'from sai member to a carrier, removing said material and core from the carrier, and then forming said material on the core to constitute a coating thereon conforming with the shape of the core.

4. A method of form with pul which consists in depositing a ribbono pulpous material on a member, causing contact between the core and the ulpous ribbon on the member, transferrmg the core and the pulpous ribbon from. said member to a carrier, removing said' ribbon and core from the carrier, and then forming said ribbon around the core to constitute a coating therefor having a curved outer surface.

5. A method of coating a core in strand form with pulp, which consists in depositing wet, pulpous material on a forammous member, causing contact between said core andthe pulpous material on the foraminous member, simultaneously transferring said core and said material from the foraminous member vto a carrier and removing some of the moisture from said: material, removing said material and core from the carrier,

forming the pulpous material on the core to constitute a coating thereon conforming with the shape of'the core, and then-removing substantially all of the moisture from said material. 1 Y

6; A method of coating a core in strand formwith pulp, which consists in depositing coating a core in strand the wet, pulpous material on a foraminous member, causing contact between said core and the ulpous material on the foraminous mem er, simultaneously transferring said core and said material from the foraminous member to a felt and removing some of the moisture fromsaid material, removing said material and core from the felt, forming the pulpous material on the core to constitute a coating thereon conforming with the shape of the coreand'then removin substantially all of themoisture from said materlal.

7. A method of coating a core in strand formwith pulp, which consists in depositing pulpous material on a member, causing contact between said core and the ulpous material on the member, removing t 1e core from the member, transferring said pulpous material from said member to a moving felt, and then removing said material from the felt and then forming the said material on the core to constitute a coating thereon conforming with the shape of the core.

I 8. A method of coating a core in strand form with ulp, which consists in depositing wet, pu pous material on a foraminous member, placin the core-adjacent said de- Eositedmateria on said foraminous memer, transferring the core and all .of the pulpousmaterial from the foraminous member to a moving felt, removing'said material and core from said felt, and then form- A ing said'material around the core to form ahomo eneous coating thereon and having a curve outer surface.

9. A method of coating a core in strand form with pulp, which consists in depositingwet, pulpous material on a foraminous member, causing contact between said core and ulpous material on the foraminous mem er, simultaneously removing the core and the pulpous material from the foraminous member and removing same of the moisture therefrom, removing additional moisture from the material, and then forming said material around the core to constitute a homogeneous coatin therefor and having a substantially circular outer surface. 10. A method of coating a core in strand form with pulp, which consists in depositing Wet,'pulpous material on a foraminous member, causing-contact between said core and the pulpous material on the foraminous member, removing the core and the pulpous material from the foraminous member to a carrier and removing some of the moisture therefrom, removing additional moisture from the material, forming said material around the core to constitute a homogeneous coating therefor conforming with the shape thereof, and then removing substantially all of the moisture from said coating.

form with pulp, which consists in depositing a ribbon of pulpous material on a member, transferring said ribbon from said member to a roll having felt on its periphery, removing said ribbon from said roll and then wrapping said pulpous material around the core to constitute a coating thereon conforming with the shape of the core.

12. In a machine for coating a core in strand form with pulp, a receptacle for containing a supply ofliquid containing pulp, a foraminous member, means for causing relative movement between said member and said liquid whereby pulp is strained onto said member, means for causing contact between the core and said material on the foraminous member, a carrier means for removing said pulp from the foraminous member to said carrier and means for forming said pulp on the core to constitute a coating thereon conforming with the shape of the core.

13. In a machine for coating a core in strand form with pulp, a member, means for depositing pulpous material on said A member, a carrier, means for adjacently positioning the core and member, means for transferring said pulpous material from said member to said carrier, means whereby the pulp is removed from the carrier, and means for forming said pulpous material on the core to constitute a coating thereon conforming with theshape of the core.

14. In a machine for coating a core in strand form with pulp, a receptacle for containing a, supply of liquid containing pulp, a member, means for causing relative move ment between said member and said liquid whereby pulp is deposited on said member, a carrier, means for causing engagement between the carrier and the pulp on the member whereby the pulp is transferred to the carrier, means for adjacently positioning the core and carrier, means whereby the pulp is removed from the carrier and means for forming said pulp on the core to constitute a coating thereon conforming With the shape of the core.

15. In a machine for coating a core in strand form with pulp, a member, means for depositing pulp on said member, a carrier, means for transferring pulp from said member to the carrier, means for drawing the core around the carrier, means whereby the pulp is removed from the carrier, and means forforming said material on the core to constitute a coating thereon conforming with the shape of the core.

16. In a machine for coating a core in strand form with pulp, a receptacle contain? ing a supply of liquid containing pulp, a foraminous member, means for causing rel-' ative movement between said member and said liquid whereby pulp is strained onto said member, a rotatable felt, means for ing a supply said ribbon causing engagement between said felt and thepulp on the foraminous member whereby the pulp is transferred to the felt, means for bringing the core adjacent said felt whereby the pulp thereon is deposited on the core and means for forming the pulp on the core to constitute a coating thereon conforming with the shape of the core.

17. In a machine for coating a core in strand form with pulp, a receptacle contain ing a supply of liquid containing pulp, a foraminous member, means for causing relative movement between said member and said liquid whereby pulp is strained onto said member, a rotatable felt, means for causing engagement between said felt and the pulp on the foraminous member whereby the pulp is transferred to the felt, means for drawing the core around the felt whereby the pulp' thereon is deposited on the core and means forforming the pulp on the core to constitute a coating thereon conforming with the shape of the core.

18. In a machine for coating a core in strand form with pulp, a receptacle containing a supply of liquid containing pulp, a foraminous member, means for causing. relative movement between said member and said liquid whereby pulp is strainedon the member, a rotatable felt, means, for causing engagement between said felt and the pulp on the foraminous member whereby a ribbon of pulp is transferred to the felt, means for bringing the core adjacent said felt whereby the pulp ribbon thereon is deposited on the core and means for forming the pulp ribbon on the core to constitute a coating thereon conforming with the shape of the core.

19. In a machine for coating a core in strand form with pulp, a receptacle containof liquid containing pulp, 'a foraminous member, means for causing relative movement between said member and said liquid whereby pulp isstrained. on the member, a rotatable felt, means for causing engagement between said felt and the pulp on the foraminous member whereby a ribbon of pulp is transferred to the felt, means for bringing the core adjacent said felt whereby the pulp ribbon thereon is deposited on the core, and means for Wrapping around the core to form a homogeneous coating therefor.

20. In a machine for strand form with pulp, a receptable containing a supply of liquid containing pulp, a formanmous member, means for causing relcoating a core in ative movement between said member and said liquid whereby pulp is strained on the member, M engagement between said felt and the pulp on the foraininous member whereby a ribbon of pulp is transferred to the felt, means for bringing the core adjacentsaid felt whereby a rotatable felt, means for causing the pulp ribbon thereon is deposited on the core, means for squeezing said ribbon to remove moisture therefrom, and means for wrapping said ribbon around the core to form a homogeneous coating therefor.

' 21. In a mechanism for coating a core in strand form with pulp, in combination, a

tank containing a mixture of pulp, a rotatable member mounted therein and having a foraminous portion, means for straining pulp onto said foraminous portion, a roll iaving felt on its periphery, means for pressing said roll against said foraminous ortion whereby a ribbon of pulp is transerred to said roll, means for drawing the core around said roll whereby the pulp ribbon on the roll is deposited on the core,'and means for forming the -pulpous ribbon into a coating therefor conforming with the shape of the core. V

22. In a mechanism .for coating a core in strand form with pulp, in combination,

a tank containing a mixture of pulp, a rotatable member mounted therem and having a forammous portlon, means for straining pulp onto said foraminous portion, a roll having felt on its periphery, means for pressing said roll against said foraminous portion whereb a ribbon of pulp is'transferred to said rol means for drawing the core around said roll whereby the pulp ribbon on the roll is deposited on the core, and means for Wrapping said ribbon around the core to form a homogeneous coating therefor.

23. In a mechanism for coating a core-in strand form with pulp, in combination, a,

tank containing a mixture of pulp, a rotatable member mounted therein and having a foraminous portion, means for straining ulp onto said foraminous portion, a roll avmg felt on its periphery, means for a pressing said roll againstv said foraminous ortion whereby a rlbbon of pulpis transerred to said roll, means for drawing the core around said roll whereby the pulp ribbon on the roll is deposited on the core, means for wrapping said ribbon around the core to form a homogeneous coating-and means for removing substantially all of the moisture from said coating.

24. In a mechanism 'for coating a core in strand form with pulp, in combination, a

bon on thecore, and means for wrapping said ribbon around thecore to form a ho-- mogeneous coating;

25. In a mechanism for coatin strand -form with pulp, in com ination, a tank containi'ng'a mixture of pulp, a rotatable memberjmounted therein and having a.

ortion, means for straining foraminous pulp onto said foraminous portion," a roll having felt on it's periphery, means for pressing said roll against said foraminous portion whereby a ribbon of pulp is transferred to said roll, means for drawing thecore around said-roll whereby the pulp ribbon on the roll is deposited on the core, means for squeezing moisture from the ribbon on the core, means for wrapping said ribbonaround the core to form a homogeneous coating, andmeans for removing substantially al of the moisture from said coating.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 16 day of Feb. A. 1)., 1923.

JOHN SHIRLEY LITTLE.

a'core in 

